Gaura plant named &#39;DGASTEFBP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant named ‘DGASTEFBP’ is disclosed, characterized by good branching, abundant flowering over most of the plant, and a semi-upright, compact habit. Flower color is light pink. The new variety is a Gaura, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Gaura lindheimeri.

Variety denomination: ‘DGASTEFBP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Gaura cultivar is a product of an open pollination breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Gaura varieties for ornamental purposes. The open-pollination resulting in this new variety was made during January of 2013.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Gaura ‘GO-13-224’. The pollen parent is unknown, as it was an open-pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in July 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the open-pollination, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Date of first sale was Sep. 30, 2018, occurring in the United States. This sale was made directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed invention directly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all public disclosures made between Sep. 30, 2018 and the filing of this application fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ first by vegetative cuttings was first performed during July of 2015, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DGASTEFBP’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DGASTEFBP’ as a new and distinct Gaura cultivar:

1. Very good branching. 2. Abundant flowering covering most of plant. 3. Semi-upright habit. 4. Compact, medium sized plant. 5. Light pink flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety has brighter pink flowers than the seed parent variety. 2. The new variety has more branches than the seed parent variety. 3. The new variety has more vigor than the seed parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Gaura ‘Belleza Pink’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DGASTEFBP’ differs in the following:

1. The new variety has brighter pink flowers than this comparator. 2. The new variety has bigger flowers than this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DGASTEFBP’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Gaura ‘Gambit Rose’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DGASTEFBP’ differs in the following:

1. The new variety has more branches than this comparator. 2. The new variety has smaller foliage than this comparator. 3. The new variety has brighter flowers than this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DGASTEFBP’ grown in in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of ‘DGASTEFBP’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 50 days old in a 12 cm pot. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DGASTEFBP’ plants grown in a nursery in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April 2019. The plants were approximately 50 days old in a 12 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 6° C. to 35° C. during the days, 0° C. to 22° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Gaura lindheimeri ‘DGASTEFBP’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 14 days at 16-20° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-upright, compact. -   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm. -   Height: 32 cm. -   Plant spread: 18 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: -   Length of primary lateral branches: 32 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Average 6. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Immature branches: Upper tip: Close to RHS Red-Purple             59B. Below: Close to RHS Green 137C and Red 53B. Mature             branches: Close to RHS Green 137B; tip close to RHS             Red-Purple 59C.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Strength.—Strong, somewhat flexible. -   Internode length: 1.2 to 1.6 cm. -   Root description: Fibrous, colored near RHS White 155D.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 15 to 20 per branch.         -   Average length.—5.5 to 7.5 cm.         -   Average width.—1 to 1.4 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Scant pubescence.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Scant pubescence.         -   Aspect.—Flat with little undulation at apex.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side: RHS             Green N137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation Color, Mature Foliage:             Upper side: RHS Green-White 157C; Red-Purple 61B near base.             Under side: RHS Green-White 157C; Red-Purple 61B near base.             Venation Color, Young Foliage: Upper side: RHS Green-White             157C. Under side: RHS Green-White 157C.         -   Petiole.—Sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer. -   Inflorescence type: Single zygomorphic flowers produced on terminal     and axillary racemes. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Length.—1.6 to 1.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 to 0.25 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. -   Raceme:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 5.5 cm.         -   Length.—Average 15 cm.         -   Flowers per raceme.—9 to 15 (8 open flowers). -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 3.3 cm.         -   Length.—Average 1.7 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Quantity of petals.—4.         -   Arrangement.—Symmetrical whorl.         -   Petal length.—1.7 cm.         -   Petal width.—0.9 cm.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.5 cm.         -   Corolla tube diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal shape.—Rounded, spatulate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Upwardly cupped. -   Petal color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 65C; veins             near Red-Purple N66C. Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple             65C; veins near Red-Purple N66C.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D; veins             near Red-Purple N66C. Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple             65C; veins near Red-Purple N66C.         -   Fading.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 65C. Lower             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 65C. Outer Corolla tube color:             Near RHS Red-Purple 58B. Inner Corolla tube color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—1.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.15 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Aspect.—Undulating and strongly reflexed back.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Lower             Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 61B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average 4 to 6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137B.         -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 20° angle from stem.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Strength.—Strong. -   Pedicel: Not present, directly attached by corolla tube to peduncle. -   Fragrance: Not observed.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—8.         -   Filament length.—1.6 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 69D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Red-Purple 60A.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 1D. Quantity: Abundant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—2.1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.9 cm. Color: RHS Red-Purple N66C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 4-lobed. Color: RHS Red-Purple 65D. Ovary             Color: RHS Red-Purple 61A. Ovary Length: Approximately 1 cm.             Ovary Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm. Ovary Shape: Linear.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance, tolerance or susceptibility: Neither     resistance nor susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed     in this variety. -   Temperature tolerance: Approximately 0° C. to 38° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant named ‘DGASTEFBP’ as herein illustrated and described. 